U2: UK Changing Economic World

• A post-industrial economy is when industrial decline leads to the growth in the tertiary and quaternary sector.
• A science park is an area dedicated to scientific research or the development of science-based / technology industries.
• A rural area is an area located outside of a town or city, typically with lower populations and small settlements.
• Counter urbanisation is when people leave an urban areaa for a better QOL.
• Deindustrialisation is the decline of a countries traditional manufacturing industry due to exhaustion of raw mateials, NEE competition, loss of market.
• Globalisation is the process which has created a more connected world.
• Evidence for post-industry

  • Factories closing.
  • Growth corridors
• A research / hi-tech corridor encourages innovation and technological advancement, meaning universities and other companies collaborate to develop new technologies and patents, boosting economies.

  • Attracts investment.
  • Creates jobs.
• Rural Spiral of decline

  1. People (especially youth) leave for more opportunity in Urban areas.
  2. Employers struggle to recruit labour.
  3. Less investment leads to businesses shutting.
  4. This leads to less employment and decreasing populations. (Decline)
  5. People notice the decreasing QOL.
  6. Cycle restarts.
• Deindustrialisation Spiral of Decline

  1. Unemployment and less jobs
  2. Less money to spend
  3. Less services
  4. People leave
  5. Lack of investment
  6. Deprivation
  7. Decline
  8. Repeat
• The North-South divide is a term used to describe the social, economic and cultural disparities between London and the SE of the UK compared to the rest of the UK.
• North vs South

  North:

  • High unemployment (January 2020, NE 6.6%)
  • Low house prices (2018, £115,000 in NE)
  • Lower life expectancy (In NE, Female = 81.6, Male = 77.9)

  South:

  • Lower unemployment (January 2020, SE 3.3%)
  • High house prices (2018, £500,000 in London)
  • Higher life expectancy (In London, Female = 84.1, Male = 80.2)
  • Students 40% more likely to get a top GCSE grade
• Why is the North-South divide a thing?

  • Deindustrialisation
  • Globalisation
  • Government spending (eg. £9,000 per person in London vs £7,500 per person in Yorkshire)
• Solutions to North-South divide:

  Regional investment / Northern powerhouse

  • boost local economy
  • invest in cities
  • make it attractive

  Devolution of Power

  • Give power to locals
  • Eg. Andy Burnham, Manchester Mayor
  • £1 billion devolved funds

  Infraustructure

  • HS2
  • Smart motorways
• Infraustructure investment:

  Train (HS2):

  • 1000s of jobs in N and Midlands
  • Runs London to Birmingham, then Birmingham to Newcastle and Manchester
  • Expected to cost £42 billion, however this figure has rose to £108 billion
  • 18 trains leaving Euston per hour
  • 25 new stations across N England
  • Can reduce travel times between London and Manchester by up to 1 hour.
  • However, due to costs and delays, it now only runs London to Birmingham
  • Is it needed?
  • Disrupts habitats
  • Only North benefits
• Infrastructure investment:

  Airports:

  • Heathrow (LHR) 5th biggest airport in the world
  • New runway costs £18.6 billion
  • New runway expected to generate £150 billion over 60 years
  • 70,000 new jobs by 2050
• Infrastructure investment:

  Roads:

  • M4 (London to Reading)
  • Smart motorways are motorways with no hard shoulder (reduces congestion)
  • 2014, government announced that they would invest £15 billion on improving and expanding roads in the UK
• Infrastructure investment:

  Ports:

  • London Gateway (Thurrock)
  • Accommodates 400m long ships
  • A 4th berth will cost £350 million
• The UK joined the EU in 1973 and left in 2016.
• Cambridge Science Park

  • Connected to London Stansted airport via M11
  • Close to Cambridge city
  • Railway is 12 minute walk away
  • Contributes £37 billion a year
• De-industrialisation in UK

  1962

  • Over 500,000 people employed in coal industry
  • Produced 200 million tonnes of coal

  2010

  • 5900 employed
  • Produced 16 million tonnes of coal

  2025

  • Less than 1000 people employed

  
• A rural area in UK experiencing growth: Alnwick


  • Alnwick is in NE England, N of Newcastle, SE of Edinburgh. It is a gateway settlement for the Northumberland National Park, and is by the coast.
  • Population grew from 7800 to 8100 in 2011.
  • Pros:
  • Competitive market
  • Local markets benefit
  • Cons:
  • Loss of community
  • Long-term residents priced out
• A rural area in UK experiencing decline: Millfield


  • NW of Alnwick, NE Northumberland National Park
  • Aging population
  • Post office shut in 2015
  • Primary school shut in 2014
  • Local shop at risk of shutting down
  • Pros:
  • Cheap area
  • Cons:
  • Loss of jobs
  • Loss of community